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Development and Sustainable mobility

The Group’s societal responsibility is embodied by its Development and Sustainable Mobility strategy. This strategy aims to make Michelin one of the most innovative, responsible, and high-performing companies worldwide across all of its responsibilities: economic, environmental, social and societal.

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Michelin at the cutting-edge of hydrogen mobility

The 32nd international Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS 32) was held in Lyon from May 19 to 22, 2019. It was a great opportunity for Michelin to reaffirm its commitment to sustainable mobility, particularly in the field of hydrogen technology.

Hydrogen technology is an essential solution to the four major challenges in society: the fight against global warming, the need to improve air quality, to encourage the development of renewable energies and, finally, to reduce our economic dependence on fossil fuels. Once equipped with hydrogen systems, electric vehicles meet the requirements for main transport sector uses whilst being zero emission. Michelin is convinced of the key role this technology will play today and in the coming years. The group has been working on it for over 15 years.

Hydrogen technology is today mature but further perfecting will result in even better technical and economic performance.

The Group’s ambition is clear: accelerate electric hydrogen mobility and rollout by becoming a world leader in hydrogen systems as well as a zero emission mobility operator.

This commitment is evident in particular with the purchase of Symbio at the beginning of the year then the announcement in March 2019 of a protocol agreement with Faurecia to create a joint venture for hydrogen systems with this automotive supplier, which already has nearly 300 Renault Kangoo ZEH2s on the road.

The mobilization of all industrial and institutional stakeholders throughout the entire value chain is required to ensure a sufficiently large network of charging points, to make this mobility accessible everywhere and for every mode of transport. This is why the Group is also committed to the creation of public-private partnerships. One of the most ambitious examples is the Zero Emission Valley Project in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, with the objective of the massive and simultaneous rollout of hydrogen mobility and its infrastructure: 20 stations, 15 electrolyzers, 1,000 vehicles in an initial phase by the end of 2021. This experiment has led to the creation of a dedicated company called HymPulsion responsible for the installation and management of the 20 hydrogen distribution stations. The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region and the Banque des Territoires have invested in +49% of HymPulsion, a unique public-private partnership in this field, whilst the Michelin Group, ENGIE and Crédit Agricole own the remaining +51%. Lauded at the symposium, this project was selected by ADEME within the framework of its “Hydrogen mobility ecosystems” call for proposals.

With hydrogen, Michelin is committing the Group and its ecosystems to make their development and mobility even more sustainable.

The next edition of the Movin’On summit is scheduled for June 4 to 6, 2019 and will be another opportunity for Michelin to highlight these commitments. (#MovinOnConnect)

Michelin and hydrogen: historic partners

Michelin and hydrogen represent 15 years of R&D expertise. Today, the Group can provide hydrogen batteries designed in our research center in Switzerland and manufactured in our factory in Lyon (IMECA) for different types of applications (light vehicles, urban buses, boats, aviation, etc.).

IMECA, a subsidiary of the Michelin Group, is also working with Symbio on the industrialization of their hydrogen battery systems. With IMECA, the Group’s work is developing through the “Start2Prod powered by Michelin” brand that supports start-ups and small firms with the industrialization of their innovations, particularly in the field of hydrogen.

As an example, Pragma industries turned to “Start2Prod” for the pre-production of 100 hydrogen-powered bicycles and construction of mass production of the bike and its battery.

Michelin also provides the hydrogen module for Safra’s Businova buses. The first models will be rolled out by the Artois-Gohelle Mixed Transport Union (Pas-de-Calais) in 2019.

Michelin and the hydrogen competition

Michelin is the official tire supplier for Green GT, the high-tech group dedicated to research, development and implementation of high-power electric-hydrogen propulsion systems (fuel cells). However, Michelin is also the manufacturer’s technology partner through Symbio that, in close collaboration with Green GT, developed the hydrogen system Green GT H2 and Speed H2, both of which were presented at the 24h Le Mans race. By putting the hydrogen fuel cell up against the extreme conditions of endurance races, we are working to offer future private and business customers every guarantee of safety and performance.

Close-up on the 32nd international Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS 32)

The 32nd International Symposium dedicated to electric vehicles, EVS 32, took place this year from May 19 to 22 at Lyon’s Eurexpo Center.

This city was not a random choice as the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region is home to research and innovation centers as well as manufacturers of electric vehicles, hydrogen fuel cells and autonomous vehicles.

The Electric Vehicle Symposium is the main international event dedicated to all aspects of electric mobility: from markets to vehicle battery technology, from motorbikes to trucks, from charging infrastructures to additional services and public policies. The Lyon edition was scheduled to host 150 exhibitors, 2,000 delegates and 5,000 visitors to attend some 160 conferences and networking sessions.